Laura Parsons, of International Business Wales, commented: “Exports from Wales have increased by £213 million to non-EU countries, up 6.1% and £120 million to EU countries, up 2.2%. This is the third highest increase in the UK which is testament to the strength of Welsh exporting companies to regions across the world."

The Welsh companies exhibiting with International Business Wales reflect the broad range of manufacturing expertise available in Wales, from production of plastics to product testing and coating.

The Welsh companies attending Manufacturing Technology Ireland include: St Davids Assemblies Limited, Abtest Ltd, NPE Innotek Ltd, TTP Precision Ltd, BAW Precision Engineering Ltd.

St. Davids Assemblies Limited

St. Davids Assemblies Limited is one of the UK’s leading sub-contract manufacturers of plastic injection mouldings, complex pressings and assemblies - with the capacity to design and manufacture tools for both prototype and production. Logistics manager Susanne De Silva said: “Exhibitions give us the chance to make new business contacts and to make our name known in the sector. We have found that when we met someone face to face they tend to remember us. This has resulted in business leads being realised as long as nine months after the original event.”

Manufacturing Technology Ireland will provide an opportunity for St Davids Assemblies to show potential customers more about its sub-contracting services, which can be employed at any point during the design or production process.

Abtest Ltd

Abtest is an independent test facility located in South Wales. It specialises in climatic, dynamic and calibration testing, as well as ATE and Functional Design and Build. The company operates in markets such as automotive, telecommunications, medical, defence, aerospace and commercial.

As well as testing shock impact and product consistency, Abtest’s facilities can also test products to survive an arctic winter or Kalahari Desert sandstorm.

Alan Breese of Abtest said: “We test consumer safety products for the local Trading Standards right up to landing gear on commercial aircraft.”

This is the first year Abtest is attending Manufacturing Technology Ireland, however it does attend a number of other shows across the UK. Alan explained: “We find exhibiting at shows gives us the best return on investment in terms of marketing spend and we are looking forward to being able to network with other Welsh businesses as well as existing and potential clients.”

NPE Innotek Ltd

NPE Innotek based in Neath, South Wales, specialises in the design and manufacture of precise press tooling, mainly for the canning aerosol and beverage industries. It also manufactures precision tooling for other industries including medical, electronics, defence and automotive, with Renault Formula One amongst its customers.

The company, which has been established since 1984, has recently been joined by a sister company, Plasma and Thermal Coatings of Newport. It specialises in the precise robotic application of wear resistant coating, including plasma spray, ceramic coatings, and tungsten carbide.

General Manager, Steve Evans said "We offer our clients an end to end process, whereby we manufacture, coat and precision finish within the group. “This is the first time NPE Innotek has exhibited at Manufacturing Technology Ireland. Our main aim is to interact with potential customers within the food and beverage industries, and meet new clients from the prominent Irish medical manufacturing sector.”

TTP Precision Ltd

TTP Precision is a family-run business which specialises in supplying turned parts to a wide range of businesses. Established in 1970, the company is currently sub-contracted to a wide range of companies, both global and local.

Tom Gardner of TTP Precision explained: “Ireland is the obvious choice for us as the technological climate there is very similar to our own. We’re looking to make new contacts at this year’s Manufacturing Technology exhibition and to fly the flag for Welsh businesses.

“In a fast-paced world of email and telephone, exhibitions allow us the luxury of taking the time to meet potential clients face-to-face. Manufacturing Technology Ireland is an efficient and effective way of increasing our brand awareness through targeting existing and potential clients in the global marketplace.”

BAW Precision Engineering Ltd

Swansea based BAW Precision Engineering is this year returning to Manufacturing Technology Ireland for the second time as it looks to further develop its opportunities in the Republic. The company, which was founded in 1973, offers comprehensive CNC and conventional precision engineering machining capacity and provides a quality service for machining prototypes, one-off components or short and longer run batch work from a variety of stock materials that include tool steels, stainless steels, super alloys and non ferrous materials or castings. BAW offer particular expertise in the medical, automotive, aerospace, oil & gas, pharmaceutical, white goods and food sectors but conduct our business in many other areas.

With full 3D design and manufacturing facilities, including the provision of software for plc control, electrical cabinets, vision inspection, pneumatics, hydraulics and commissioning all undertaken at its own premises, BAW provides an ideal platform for bespoke special purpose equipment, jigs, fixtures, assemblies and all types of associated tooling.

Joint managing director Peter Byrne commented: “We have been exhibiting at international shows for 15 years and are particularly keen to explore what our research shows are significant opportunities in Ireland, where the growing high tech industries ‘fit in’ with our expertise and precision manufacturing capabilities. We had a taste of the opportunities through exhibiting at last year’s show and look forward to the opportunity of progressing these further this year and look forward to meeting even more potential customers.”

“At BAW we offer the full precision engineering process, from concept, through design and manufacture to commissioning. BAW has formed long term, long lasting associations and friendships with customers who currently include Robert Bosch, Continental Teves, Borg Warner, Biomet, Hi-Lex Cables, TRW, Airborne Systems and Walkers Foods. We are able to manufacture almost any component and develop solutions to meet specific customer requirements either from the customer’s concept, design or our own.

By adopting this overall approach we are able to achieve both competitive pricing and efficient turnaround times and still maintain our reputation for precision and quality”